From the files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society:

This is a retrospective column that will run a few times a month on InkFreeNews.com.

Information for this retrospective series is courtesy of the Kosciusko County Historical Society. For more history of Kosciusko County in the news visit yesteryear.clunette.com.

Jan. 5, 1974 — Firemen battled near zero degree temperatures and a stubborn blaze that completely gutted the quarter-block Boice Building at the intersection of Center and Indiana streets in downtown Warsaw Jan. 5.

The fire, which was first detected at 7:10 a.m., was still raging in the late morning as firemen were hampered by false ceilings in the second story of the building, according to news reports from the period.

Although no early estimates of damage were available, authorities speculated that the loss would exceed $200,000.

Housed in the structure were the Center Cinema movie theater, Dye Music Center and Town and Country women’s apparel shop on the street level.

The second floor contained offices for the Vore Cinema Corp., Wayne Township Justice of the Peace Milo Clase, Credit Bureau of Kosciusko County, the Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee and office for the owner of the building.

Jan. 7, 1977 — Two students and one teacher escaped injury this morning at Warsaw Community High School when what was later determined to be an M-80 firecracker placed by a fellow student exploded in the upper E section boys’ restroom.

The explosion destroyed one stool in the area where it was planted and threw shrapnel from the stool throughout the entire restroom. Since the stool was enclosed partially in a stall, the bulk of the damage was confined to that area.

After an investigation by police, they said the matter was “in the hands of the probation officers and the prosecutor.”

Jan. 10, 1977 — Indiana’s worst storm of the season left the state, including Warsaw and the surrounding area, covered with up to one foot of snow Jan. 10, 1977. Many roads were closed and schools around the state canceled classes. All schools in Warsaw and Kosciusko County were closed.

Jan. 11, 1977 — Bitter cold arctic air brought temperatures as low as 14 below zero to the Warsaw area today, adding to the misery of drifting snow which clogged streets and roads, closing all schools in the city and county for the second consecutive day and bringing near paralysis to some localities.